“There is a delicious irony in seeing private luxury jets flying into Washington, D.C., and people coming off of them with tin cups in their hand, saying that they’re going to be trimming down and streamlining their businesses,” Rep. Gary Ackerman, D-New York, told the chief executive officers of Ford, Chrysler and General Motors at a hearing of the House Financial Services Committee.

“It’s almost like seeing a guy show up at the soup kitchen in high hat and tuxedo. It kind of makes you a little bit suspicious.” He added, “couldn’t you all have downgraded to first class or jet-pooled or something to get here? It would have at least sent a message that you do get it.”

I don’t know how many of my fellow bloggers are following the bailout debate for US automakers. Many may know that the Big 3 (Ford, Chrysler, and GM) have asked the US government for a US$ 25 billion bailout package otherwise they could be forced to liquidate assets and close operations. The Democrats had been on-board with a bailout for the automakers because of the effect the loss of employment and revenue to the national economy, but yesterday that picture changed with one question that is very relevant to our national financial situation.

Representative Brad Sherman, a Democrat from California, asked the 3 CEOs to “raise their hand if they flew here commercial?” “Let the record show, no hands went up,” Sherman continued. “Second, I’m going to ask you to raise your hand if you are planning to sell your jet in place now and fly back commercial. Let the record show, no hands went up.”

And there died a US$ 25 billion bailout package.

The Detroit Free Press yesterday published that 1 roundtrip flight on the jet cost US$ 20,000, while a First Class commercial ticket would have only cost US$ 1000.

Now turning to our President and his recent state visit to Saudi Arabia to request financial assistance for Pakistan. President Zardari felt that 240 of his closest friends needed to perform Umra with him. While President Zardari says he paid for all the people to travel, it doesn’t change the image that the Saudi’s must have gotten with the planes and numerous guests that arrived from Pakistan.

Symbolically, this government has not shown that it understands the plight of the people, and principally have offended the sensibilities of most foreign donors by the lavish spending on airfare, entourages, and other luxuries that a government that is begging for international financial assistance can not afford.

Maybe that is why IMF has been appointed as the Gatekeeper of Pakistan’s finances or none of the “Friends of Pakistan” were ready to help Pakistan?

Related posts:

1. Why Should They Bother Prime Minister Brown?
2. I’m A Pakistani, Not a Terrorist
3. VIP Treatment for Criminals - Again
4. Are Pakistan and the US on the Brink of War?
5. Privatize America!
6. The Elite Circle of $1 CEOs - Business Week
7. Craig Cohen Online at the Washington Post

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